RTWT

Why would this matter? Because one can make a compelling argument that World Wars 1 & 2 were a modern Thirty Years War, and as such has shaped the world in which we live. Even if you reject that theory, you cannot ignore that the aftermath of WW1 (the Versailles Treaty foremost) directly led to the Second.

From the Conclusion:

In sum, a web of interdependent variables led Germany to war. Hyper-nationalism; a lack of civilian management of the military; the cult of the offensive; preventive war thinking and a misperception of inter and intra-alliance politics were among the contributing factors. The psychology of German War planners, incoherence of strategic planning, and military organizational politics and domestic politics also played important roles.

More simply put, the German General Staff, as with generals throughout time, were gaming out how to win the last war, without admitting the changed reality. In the Franco-Prussian War, Germany had a slight edge in small arms and a huge advantage in artillery. In 1914, it’s pretty clear that Germany still had better rifles than did the French, but the French 75mm gun was the finest artillery piece of the time.

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